September update from Mark Tonks & LMI

Welcome to latest edition of Shed Loads of Leadership. In this edition a little food for thought, a couple of upcoming events ideal for business networking alongside personal development, an interesting article on the impact of coffee on productivity, a couple of recommendations and of course something just for fun, we hope to enjoy the read.

Food For Thought
How long does it take between a telephone ringing, an email pinging or some other such alert informing us that somebody somewhere wants our attention?

Manage this situation by managing expectations. If you always respond to an email by return it will become expected, it will become normal. If you always answer your mobile when it rings it will become expected and normal. Be honest – what percentage of communication really demands your immediate attention?

Schedule time during the day to read emails and prioritise them, listen to your voice mail and prioritise them in order of importance to you. Take control of your own agenda.

If you communicate this to your staff, colleagues and clients then their expectations are more informed. Remember; you must do what you said you would do! If you say you will call someone back in 30 minutes and you call them back after 60 minutes they will be annoyed; if on the other hand you tell someone you will get back to them in 90 minutes and you call them in 60 minutes they think you’re great.You have delivered exactly the same service the only difference being that you have managed their expectation.

Go on, be brave, turn off you phone for an hour, turn off your email for an hour… the world (and your clients) will still be there when you turn them back on!